The Grammy Awards, presented by the Recording Academy, have been a nationwide favorite since their inception in the 1950s. The 2024 Grammys will take place on Sunday, Feb. 4, and the event is a source of anticipation as listeners from all over the world tune in to see if their favorite artists will leave with any gilded gramophones. The excitement around this year’s awards ceremony continues to rise as CBS, which broadcasts the ceremony, unveils more artists in the event’s lineup. Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo have been revealed as some of this year’s performers, and it was recently announced that Travis Scott, Luke Combs and Burna Boy will also perform. The latter set of artists are all nominated for a Grammy this year, making their performances a source of even more intrigue. This year’s event will be hosted by comedian Trevor Noah, who is presenting for the fourth consecutive year.
You may be wondering where the word “Grammy” comes from in the first place. Originally dubbed the “Gramophone” Awards in 1958 as a reference to Emile Berliner’s invention of the gramophone, the name was eventually shortened to “Grammys.” The Grammys feature a plethora of categories, with the number having substantially grown over the years. At the very first Grammy Awards, only 28 categories were presented, while there will be a whopping 94 featured at this year’s event. Along with some for specific genres of music, awards are given in four general categories: Best New Artist, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Record of the Year. The list doesn’t end here, however, as there are honorary awards as well. Some of these include the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to artists who have made substantial contributions to the recording industry; the Grammy Hall of Fame Award, which highlights recordings of lasting historical significance; and the MusiCares Person of the Year Award, presented to artists who have significant creative achievements and engaged extensively in philanthropy. Three new categories for awards will debut at this year’s event, including Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album and Best Pop Dance Recording.
The nominations for this year’s event were released last November, and they reflect a range of popular songs and albums from the past year. The 2024 nominations include:
Record of the Year
- “Worship” by Jon Batiste
- “Not Strong Enough” by boygenius
- “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus
- “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish
- “On My Mama” by Victoria Monét
- “Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo
- “Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift
- “Kill Bill” by SZA
Album of the Year
- “World Music Radio” by Jon Batiste
- “The Record” by boygenius
- “Endless Summer Vacation” by Miley Cyrus
- “Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd” by Lana Del Rey
- “The Age Of Pleasure” by Janelle Monáe
- “GUTS” by Olivia Rodrigo
- “Midnights” by Taylor Swift
- “SOS” by SZA
Debate over who will win this year’s Grammys is heating up as the event draws nearer, with fans speculating and placing bets on who will take which award home. Although predicting Grammy winners is never easy, many have made predictions. For Record of the Year, some are predicting Billie Eilish’s hit “What Was I Made For?” pointing in part to its popularity in last year’s “Barbie” (2023) movie. The record even remained on the Hot 100 for six months straight. Although Eilish’s song proved to be a hit, Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” is also a leading competitor for Record of the Year. Swift and Eilish seem to be the leading competitors for Record of the Year, which increases the anticipation revolving around the awards. For Album of the Year, all of the nominees have a chance at winning. Among the competition, Taylor Swift is a 12-time Grammy winner, and given her recent success with the Eras Tour and the release of her concert film, she is favored to bring home Album of the Year. Be sure to tune into the event on Feb. 4 at 8 p.m. EST to see for yourself who will take home an award!
